The Board of Investment (BOI) of Sri Lanka has announced plans to establish seven new investment zones across the country in 2025, aiming to boost regional economic growth, attract foreign direct investment (FDI), and create thousands of new jobs.
BOI Chairman Arjuna Herath stated that the zones will be strategically located in the Northern, North Western, Eastern, and Southern Provinces, with a focus on sector-specific development.
The key investment zones and their focus areas include:
- Kankesanthurai (Northern Province): A 300-acre zone for apparel manufacturing and information technology (IT) projects.
- Paranthan (Northern Province): A 200-acre zone for chemical production and industrial manufacturing.
- Mankulam (Northern Province): A 200-acre zone focused on agriculture and fisheries-based export industries.
- Iranavila (North Western Province): Targeted for tourism-related investments.
- Eravur (Eastern Province): Designed to support local raw material production for the apparel sector, with new factories planned.
- Hambantota (Southern Province): Set to become a hub for pharmaceutical manufacturing.
Chairman Herath emphasized that these zones will help decentralize investment flows, stimulate regional economies, and reduce unemployment.
